Cool Stuff

So many questions, so little space... Many other Star Wars collecting sites also submitted questions you need answered, so if you want to know the latest answers from this week's Hasbro Star Wars Weekly Q&A Session, here's a handy guide to help you get all the info.

NEW:The Action Figs:1) Why do some pack-in figures with vehicles and multi-figure sets use older or less-popular sculpts of the character when better-quality ones exist? Examples include the large-wing TIE Fighter being packed with the POTF2 TIE Pilot figure rather than the vastly-superior Saga TIE Pilot, or Battle Packs that use the ROTS #06 Quick-Draw Clone Trooper or Deluxe Jetpack Clone rather than the #41 Super-Articulated Clone, or the upcoming Tantive IV Battle Pack using the Evolutions Sandtrooper mold that doesn't have mid-torso articulation over the VOTC Stormtrooper. (This question isn't looking for answers to those specific examples, but to the general "why" of this practice.)

2) If and when you decide to make a Battle Droid Commander 2-pack, will you make one figure in the regular color and one in the Geonosis color, or are all of the Battle Droid 2-packs going to be 2 of the same paint application?

3) Any possibility of releasing a super-articulated IG-100 Magnaguard (aka General Grievous' Bodyguard)?

From Galactic Hunter:1) We know that during the Power of the Force 2 era there were various attempts to get the original Darth Vader (Removable Helmet) just right, and the figure was sent back to the drawing board more than once. We know that the Power of the Force 2 Luke Skywalker (Ceremonial/New Likeness) was also revised. Are there any instances of this happening in the most recent (post-Episode II) era since the team has been so focused on accuracy? Can you give us any details and specifics about who/what was refined to improve its detail?

2) 3?" Battle Packs seem to be doing really well at retail (especially during this holiday season) and most of those "leaked" over the summer are already out, or coming soon. Is this segment meeting Hasbro's expectations, and can we expect more (general release) Battle Packs in 2007? Any hints as to what concepts or locales we can expect? (When can we expect images and information about the Ambush on Ilum Battle Pack? When is it expected to be at retail?)

3) Where do we stand on getting a Silver Death Star Droid (like the vintage Kenner line), a Death Squad Trooper (grey uniform), and an Imperial Officer in a black starched, pressed, and ironed uniform? The Silver Death Star Droid could just be a repaint and the Imperial Officer could have multiple heads... more bang for your buck.

From Jedi Defender:1) Since the Episode 1 Eopie wasn't eligible for the Saga Legends voting, is there any chance you can squeeze this beast into a Battle Pack in the future? (Sort of like 2004's TRU exclusive Naboo Final Conflict set which featured a repainted Kaduu). The Eopie is still one of the toughest Episode 1 items to track down and many collectors would love to see it return (especially since the beast was featured alongside Obi-Wan in Revenge of the Sith as well).

2) Let's talk Titanium. The 3" line has grown into a fan-favorite as many fans have been sucked in by the appeal of these little beauties. As we head into 2007, can we expect to see more ships from X-Wing and TIE Fighter video game series? So many ships from which to choose - the TIE Defender, TIE Avenger, Z-95, and Stormtrooper Transport are a great place to start!

3) What's been the biggest learning point that you've taken away from participating in the first 20 Q&A sessions? Has there been anything in particular that made you sit back and think, "wow, those crazy collectors are really after product X?" Have there been any specific products set into motion for 2008 or beyond based on the collective Q&A input?

From Jedi Insider:1) If you ever get around to making a Spirit Anakin what likeness would he most likely have? Hayden Christensen, Sebastian Shaw, or (what I want to see) interchangeable Christensen and Shaw heads so everyone is happy.

2) Back at ComicCon it was stated that 10 of the choices from the Fan's Choice poll were in the plans to be made next year. Is that still true?

3) If you were to update Luke in Stormtrooper Disguise in the 3 3/4" line, would it just be a head swap, or, would it actually be a shorter sculptv(maybe with head and/or paint deco variants)?

From Sandtroopers.com:1) How about hasbro making a new skiff? One a little larger and has the feature of C-3P0 and R2-D2 with the clamps that picked them up in the movie?

2) What does Hasbro do to try to avoid peg warmers? For example, when you made the Lushros Dophine figure, which has been a peg warmer for about 6 months now, you had to know that this would not be an extremely popular figure among kids or collectors so why did Hasbro make so many of them and how will this issue be rectified in the future?

3) Are there any special plans to keep this line alive and well after the 30th Anniversary celebrations are done next year?

Click here for the answers to these questions. (Forum registration required.)

NEW:From Sir Steve's Guide:1) The 3" Titanium series X-Wing mold is being rereleased as a Dagobah version soon but the S-foil wings are stuck open on this mold which doesn't look right for the paint scheme. Will Hasbro eventually make a new X-Wing that has opening/closing wings? How about a new 3" Titanium Millennium Falcon with retractable landing gear, or other Galoob die-cast molds that could use updating?

2) The Battle Packs Unleashed line recently had a Snowspeeder vehicle set as part of the Battle of Hoth assortment. Will we see more ships in the line? How about taking larger ships from other Hasbro lines (like the 3?" line's Millennium Falcon for example) that are close to the line's scale and retool them into the Battle Packs Unleashed line?

3) Any chance of getting a figure of "Heater", the character name given to the human actor stand-in for Jabba in for A New Hope played by Declan Mullholland?

NEW:From Star Wars Action News:1) Rumor has it that the red and blue holograms that were packaged with the 2006 figures were chess pieces. Is it true that there was going to be a mail away chess board.

2) Why did Target insist on keeping the Imperial Shuttle a secret?

3) The interactive Yoda and R2 were big hits. Are there any more of these type of toys planned for the 30th anniversary?

From SW Collector:1) Why were seven out of the ten figures chosen for the Ultimate Galactic Hunt promotion, villains? As you know, the "pewter/silver" hologram figures were very limited, especially for those who were trying to obtain a complete set of the heroes; only Han Solo (TSC#002), Obi-Wan Kenobi (TSC #028) and Scorch (TSC #021; impossible to find until the red hologram version was released) included hero holograms. I don't see why Princess Leia (TSC #001) and Chewbacca (TSC #005) were not chosen over the AT-AT Driver (TSC #009) and Snowtrooper (TSC #011). Princess Leia and Chewbacca are far more iconic than the two Imperials, and it would've balanced out the hero-to-villain, pewter hologram problem.

2) I'm worried that the collectible coin pack-ins for The 30th Anniversary Collection might lead to increased incidences of vandalism at retail. Unscrupulous collectors who don't want to buy one of every figure might break into packages in order to get a complete set of coins, leaving behind the carded figures. While it was rare, I did see a few TSC packages at retail that had their hologram figures stolen out of the packaging. Was this at all considered during the product development of the coins and The 30th Anniversary Collection basic figure packaging?

3) A few weeks ago, Hasbro answered that figures of Clone Wars General Obi-Wan Kenobi in Clone Armor and a Space Armor Saesee Tiin (Clone Wars, Vol. 2) were great ideas for the 2008 line. Might we also suggest the following figures to round out a Clone Wars-themed wave in 2008?

NEW:From TheJawa.com:1) In regards to the Vintage line, do you cater more to the collectors versus kids? I ask because in the last Q&A you mentioned your hopes to complete the classic vintage line, including the more obscure characters. I would guess that this was a more collector-oriented line due to the pricepoint and presentation, which would lead me to believe that even the obscure characters would still sell very well. And as there are still a few vintage figures that have not yet been remade in the modern line, such as the palace version of Klaatu, this would be a great way to see these unmade characters. In addition, it would be great to see updates of some earlier figures in the Vintage line such as Admiral Ackbar, Wicket, and the Ugnaughts for example.

2) While the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars and the associated 30th Anniversary Collection are looming on the horizon, it seems that Hasbro is probably planning further ahead for 2008 and beyond. And it seems very likely that what Hasbro designers may be working on now is a 2008 collection and possibly a line to complement the upcoming animated series. Now we've heard from Lucasfilm that the Clone Wars cartoon that is in production is going to be very different in style from the 2 Volumes of Clone Wars that we've already seen. Now to the question: Has anyone at Hasbro seen concept art or designs for this new cartoon? And will the toy line that is sure to complement this new series be stylized like the new animation, or in the current life-like style?

3) In a previous Q&A, you mentioned that you'd already tried to make a Droideka that could turn from "wheel" mode into battle mode but it was too difficult/cumbersome to make viable. What about a "2-pack" then, where you have the regular Droideka mold and the "wheel" Droideka mold that was used in the "Destroyer Droid Battle Launcher". This could be done in both eps1 and eps2 color schemes as a running change.

From Yakface:1) There have been rumors about seeing the ARC-170 next year. Can you confirm that this is true, and if so any details about it and any pack-ins? I would love to see Oddball's fighter with him and his droid, which appears to have the same paint scheme as R4-P17, only in green instead of red.

2) I understand why you are using the S/A Scout Trooper for now as a Kashyyykk Trooper instead of making a new one, but why didn't you use the S/A Scout with opening visor then you could of at least molded a Kashyyykk Trooper visor and belt for it, to make it slightly more accurate. This surely would not have cost much and helped with any future new Kashyyykk Trooper. While I'm at it will we ever see a Snowpeeder Luke figure with grapple gun accessory and the famous Hoth Trooper sitting with his small repeater cannon?

3) I really dig the Original Trilogy Troopers in the tin sets with the removable helmets but I was curious about something.

Did you have to go to Lucasfilm to get permission to use the Jango Fett headsculpt for the Storm/Snow/Scout trooper figures? The reason I ask is because sometimes when you have an idea for a toy release, it can end up, either directly or indirectly, as canon to the overall Star Wars saga.

We've seen the Prequel clone troopers without their helmets but not any of the OT troopers, though it's always been assumed that the OT troopers were a mix of clones and conscripted soldiers. Now with the release of these figures, Hasbro is kind of confirming that some of Jango's clones are still in use in the OT, which is why I have to wonder how much permission you have to get from LFL before you produce something that might be integral to the "story". Thanks!